Gas-filled discharge tube

ABSTRACT

A gas-filled discharge tube in which there is provided a shell in the form of a metal case and an insulator. The insulator has the shape of a truncated cone and is disposed inside the metal case and defines together with the latter, a space filled with gas. Disposed inside the space are electrodes provided with leads, one of which is electrically connected to the metal case. The side surface of the insulator faces the gas-filled space so as to take up the effective pressure of the gas. The larger base of the insulator rests on an inner flange of the metal case.

United States Patent [1 1 Avilov et a1. 9

[ 1Sept. 11, 1973 GAS-FILLED DlSCl-IARGE TUBE {76] Inventors: Ernest Alexeevich Avilov, ulitsa Lenina, 14, kv. 6; Nikolai Vasilievich Belkin, ulitsa Tolyatti, ll, kv. 39, both of Moscow; Vladimir Vasilievich Galtsov, ulitsa Engelsa, 12/1, kv. 26, Ryazan; Anatoly Petrovich Zykov, ulitsa Gagarina, 25 kv. 7; Mikhail Alexeevich Kanunov,

ulitsa Pushkina, 26, kv. 11, both of Moscow; Jury Vladimirovich Kiselev, ulitsa Podgornaya, 3, kv. 29, Ryazan; Mikhail Vladimirovich Mityaev, Ryazansky prospekt, 95, korpus 4, kv. 55, Moscow; Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Nikitin, ulitsa Firsova, l2, kv. '17, Ryazan; Anatoly AlexandrovichRazin, ulitsa Lenina, 32, kv. 16, Moscow; Jury Leonidovich Stankevich, ulitsa Silkina, 7, kv. 92, Moscow; Veniamin Aronovich Tsukerman, ulitsa Vavilova, 15, kv. 75, Moscow; Lev Samuilovich Eig, L'eninsky prospekt, 43, kv. 35, Moscow, all of Primary Examiner Roy Lake Assistant Examiner Darwin R. Hostetter Attorney-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A gas-filled discharge tube in which there is provided a shell in the form ofa metal case and an insulator. The insulator has the shape of a truncated cone and is disposed inside the metal case and defines together with the latter, a space filled with gas. Disposed inside the space are electrodes provided with leads, one of which is electrically connected to the metal case. The side surface of the insulator faces the gas-filled space so as to take up the effective pressure of the gas. The larger base of the insulator rests on an inner flange of the metal case. i

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTED I 1 (if/58.804

\ II /x//////// 1 GAS-FILLED DISCHARGE TUBE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to gas-discharge devices and, more particularly, to gas-filled discharge tubes.

- PRIOR ART There exists in the art gas-discharge tubes comprising a shell defined by a metal case and an insulator having the shape of a truncated cone is disposed inside said metal case to form together with the latter, a space filled with gas, wherein electrodes are disposed, with 'kg/cm, which fact sharply restricts the field of application of such tubes.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to-provide a gasfilled discharge tube of a small size which may be filled with gas to super-high pressures of 40 to 150 kg/cm.

With the above and other objects in view, in a gasfilled discharge tube comprising a shell defined by a metal case and an insulator having the shape of a truncated cone and disposed inside said metal case to form together with the latter, a space filled with gas wherein electrodes are disposed, said electrodes being provided with leads, one of which leads is electrically connected to said metal case, according to the invention, the side surface of said insulator faces said space so as to take up the effective pressure of the gas while a larger base of said insulator rests on the inner flange of said metal case.

It is preferable that in 'the. gas-filled discharge tube the ratio of the interelectrode gap to the distance betweenthe case and the electrode electrically isolated from the case does not exceed 0.3.

The gas-filled discharge tube described herein is designed to control high-voltage pulses of about 150 to 200 kv,-several nanoseconds long. The discharge tube The metal case 1 is rigidly attached to a cover 7, the inner side of which has an electrode 8 integral with the cover. The space 3 is evacuated and filled with hydrogen to a pressure of 40 kg/cm through a metal exhaust tube 9 disposed in the center of the cover 7 along the discharge tube axis and is protected against mechanical damage by a cap 10.

To prevent external breakdowns and increase'the electric strength of the gas-filled discharge tube despite its small size the ratio of the interelectrode gap to the distance between the metal case I and the lead 5 is made equal to 0.25.

The basic structural elements of the discharge tube may be joined by any method which provides the hermetic sealing of the discharger at super-high pressures.

The gas-filled discharge tube operates as follows. A voltage with a rate of rise as high as 100 kv/nsec is applied to the electrodes 5 and 8. When this voltage reaches the value of the dynamic breakdown voltage determined by the design of the discharge tube the latter breaks down to produce voltage pulses of the desired waveform and duration, depending on the magnitude'and the nature of the load.

A high mechanical strength of the gas-discharge tube is obtained through the use of a metal case containing an insulator. The shape of the insulator is so selected that it should be subjected to compressive stresses when the discharge tube is filled with gas. A high mechanical strength and reliability of the joint between the metal case and the insulator is due to the fact that the latter rests on the inner flange of the case. A truncated cone is but one of the possible shapes of such an insulator.

The construction of the insulator described herein has one more essential advantage. Should the insulator he accidentally damaged, thecracks will be directed along the normal to its surface and the gas pressure will be unable to throw the broken parts out of the discharge tube. This considerably increases the safety of manufacture and operation of the tube.

Similar results can be obtained with insulators of parabolic, spherical and other-shapes.

The gas-discharge tube described herein makes it possible to obtain high-voltage pulses of nanosecond duration, which, when used in radar, provide a better features a high operating accuracy in time, is simple in construction and has a small weight and size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood from the following description of its specific embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which the sole FIGURE isa vertical sectional view.

7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION latter, a space 3. Disposed inside the space 3 is an elec trode 4 hermetically joined to the metal easel and provided with a tube lead 5. The larger base of the ceramic insulator 2 rests on an inner flange 6 of the metal case 1.

resolution of radar devices. The use of the gasdischarge tube in X-ray units enables a portable unit with high performance characteristics and a built-up power supply to be produced.

The other applications of the gas-filled discharge tube include acceleration technology and physical research, mainly in the field of dielectrics and semiconductors.

What is claimed is:

l. A gas-filled discharge tube; comprising: a metal case; and an insulator having the shape of a truncated cone; said insulator being disposed inside said metal case, said case and insulator providing a shell; a space defined by said metal case and said insulator and filled with gas; electrodes of said discharge tube disposed in said space; leads for said electrodes; one of said leads being electrically connected to said metal case; said insulator having its side surface facing said space so as to take up the effective pressure of the gas and an inner flange on said metal case on which the larger base of the insulator rests.

2. The gas-filled discharge tube as of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the interelectrode gap to the distance between said metal case and said lead electrically insulated from said case does not exceed 0.3.

t m m 

1. A gas-filled discharge tube; comprising: a metal case; and an insulator having the shape of a truncated cone; said insulator being disposed inside said metal case, said case and insulator providing a shell; a space defined by said metal case and said insulator and filled with gas; electrodes of said discharge tube disposed in said space; leads for said electrodes; one of said leads being electrically connected to said meTal case; said insulator having its side surface facing said space so as to take up the effective pressure of the gas and an inner flange on said metal case on which the larger base of the insulator rests.
 2. The gas-filled discharge tube as of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the interelectrode gap to the distance between said metal case and said lead electrically insulated from said case does not exceed 0.3. 